Cinnamon beneficial but can be toxic in larger quantities
Q. I read about the benefits of cinnamon several years ago and tried it. I believe it helped lower my blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides, but after two years I realized it was also causing heartburn. When I stopped the cinnamon, the heartburn stopped immediately.
A. We have been intrigued by research showing that cinnamon can help with cholesterol and blood-sugar control. Traditionally, this spice was used for intestinal upset and diarrhea.
Large quantities, however, can be toxic. Heart rate, breathing and intestinal contractions become faster. Allergic reactions have also been reported. How smart of you to recognize that your body was reacting badly to this spice.
Q. A few years back my teenage son suffered terrible foot odor. My husband and I would not let him bring his sneakers into the house, nor would we let him put his dirty socks in the hamper! His worst experience was a high-school trip to Europe, when he shared a room with two other boys. They made my son keep his sneakers in the closet.
I then read in your column a solution to eliminate foot odor: Urinate on your feet in the shower! I mentioned the column to my son and then kept quiet. Within a day, the odor was eliminated. I thought that during the next few years you would mention this remedy again, but I haven’t seen it. I think there are many, many high-school and college students who might benefit from the suggestion of urinating on your feet in the shower.
A. We first heard about this simple remedy from a great-grandmother, who learned about it from men who served in the armed forces during World War II. She maintained that urinating on the feet cured stinky feet. Your story confirms her claim. Urea, an antifungal compound in urine, may be part of the reason.
Q. I love reading about home remedies in your column and would like to share them with family and friends. Do you have a book with all the wonderful helpful information that you have in your newspaper columns so I would have them all in one place?
A. We have collected many old-fashioned treatments in “The People’s Pharmacy Guide to Home and Herbal Remedies,” a 428-page, large-size paperback. For a copy, please send $21.95 to: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, Dept. HHT, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.
Q. Some of your readers have been concerned about bad breath. They need to brush their tongues. That’s where a lot of bacteria live.
Use toothpaste and a toothbrush and do this every time you brush your teeth. This approach is simple, and it works.
A. This is certainly a low-impact, inexpensive method. The first line of defense against bad breath is good oral hygiene, with regular brushing and flossing. The next is to have the dentist check for gum infections or other problems. Brushing the tongue probably won’t hurt, and it might help.
Q. What can you tell me about bitter orange? I see that it is an ingredient in weight-loss products and wonder if it is safe.
A. Bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) has replaced the controversial herb ephedra in many natural weight-loss products. Our biggest concerns involve drug interactions. Like grapefruit, bitter orange can boost blood levels of many medications and increase the risk of side effects.